THIRSK arts charity Rural Arts is bidding to bag a cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

The scheme sees grants of £2,000, £1,000 and £500 awarded to local community projects.

Rural Arts is one of three groups in the region that has been shortlisted to receive the cash award, and shoppers are being invited to head along to Thirsk’s Tesco branch to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

The grant will allow the charity to provide intergenerational arts and crafts activities bringing local children and older people together.

These activities will help to reduce isolation, improve health and wellbeing as well as strengthen the community in the area.

Director and CEO Max May said: “We’re so pleased to be chosen as a Bags of Help cause.

"The funds will be used to run activities right on the store’s doorstep, at our arts centre just over the road.

"Please do consider dropping a blue coin in our slot as you shop.”

Voting is open at Thirsk’s Tesco from April 1 to June 30.

Customers will cast their vote using a token from the check-out each time they shop.

The project will receive one of three grant amounts, depending on how many tokens are collected.